Dwight Howard becomes the biggest free-agent name to reject Lakers, who usually hang on to elite players. But Houston offers younger, more promising nucleus.

Dwight Howard will not return to L.A. next season as a Laker, Lakers General… (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles…)

Dwight Howard has agreed to terms with the Houston Rockets, joining an up-and-coming team with one of the NBA's most dynamic young players while becoming the biggest free-agent name to ever turn his back on the Lakers.

He ditched the Lakers despite their very public campaign to retain him, including numerous billboards around Los Angeles with his image and the simple slogan “STAY.”

But Howard left, eschewing pitches from Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and a team of Lakers executives in a lengthy meeting Tuesday in Beverly Hills.

At that meeting, Bryant reportedly told Howard he should listen to him more often to learn how to become a champion, something Howard downplayed in an interview Friday with The Times.

“People twisted a lot of things he said,” Howard said. “I haven't won a championship but I'm in the NBA. That's winning. I'm blessed to be able to play this game, blessed to come out of back surgery. Winning isn't all about just having a championship, but winning in life.

“Kobe never challenged that and nothing he said had anything to do with my decision. I respect Kobe, know who he is, but this is about me and going in a different direction.”

Bryant, who turns 35 next month, recently said he wanted to play three more years before retiring, but Howard said Bryant's comment did not affect his decision-making process.

Howard, 27, picked the Rockets in part to play for Coach Kevin McHale and team consultant Hakeem Olajuwon, two Hall of Fame players known for their moves down low.

“[Houston] was the best fit for me basketball-wise,” Howard said. “And no offense to [Lakers Coach] Mike D'Antoni, but we're talking about Kevin McHale, who had a million moves in the post.”

Howard declined a five-year, $118-million contract offer from the Lakers to accept a four-year, $88-million deal with the Rockets, his third team in an 11-month period.

“Walt Disney said, ‘Big risks, big rewards,'” Howard said. “He put everything he had into ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,' and the sky was the limit. Now there's Disneyland and Disney World.

“It's a big sacrifice leaving $30 million. Really, really a big sacrifice. But I want to win a championship and I want to get back to being the person who I am and have some fun and enjoy playing basketball. And I think that's what I'll find in Houston.”

Texas has more favorable taxes on income than California, bridging the gap somewhat between the contracts offered by the Lakers and Rockets.

Howard declined to discuss whether he was dismayed by the Lakers' aging roster or by any lingering uncertainty in their front office after the death of longtime owner Jerry Buss in February.

“I'm not going to sit here and throw rocks and jabs at the Lakers,” he said. “It didn't end the way we wanted but I was able to develop a much thicker skin. I'm looking forward now to being the veteran in Houston.”

Howard's Twitter feed had a new avatar of himself in a Rockets jersey, giving a thumbs-up with his right hand.

Bryant responded by “unfollowing” Howard on Twitter and posting an Instagram photo of himself embracing Pau Gasol.

“We will now move forward in a different direction with the future of the franchise and, as always, will do our best to build the best team possible, one our great Lakers fans will be proud to support,” he said in a statement. “To Dwight, we thank him for his time and consideration, and for his efforts with us last season. We wish him the best of luck on the remainder of his NBA career.”

Howard's departure actually means good news for Gasol, who has survived the last two seasons without being traded by the Lakers and will almost surely return for the final year of his contract.

Gasol had problems in D'Antoni's offense last season, averaging career lows in points (13.7) and shooting percentage (46.6%), but the Lakers could definitely use him now. Gasol, who turns 33 today, will make $19.3 million next season.

Metta World Peace becomes the man on the clock because the Lakers can use their one-time amnesty provision to waive him next week.

He was hot and cold with the Lakers last season and would no longer be considered a top-notch defender. He flourished at first in D'Antoni's system but then dipped and did not look strong when he returned from a late-season knee injury.

World Peace, 33, would still receive $7.7 million in the final year of his contract but the Lakers could immediately save about $11 million in luxury taxes by cutting him during the one-week window to amnesty a player (July 10-16).